Rest assured, the answers to each question come straight from our pages. Usually, the answer to any given quiz question will be found in a recent article we’ve run. So, as long as you keep up with The Diplomat, you should be on your way to an easy 100 percent score on each of these quizzes.

You’ll get to see your score and the average score across all our readers at the end of the quiz.

Well? What are you waiting for? Have a go at our quiz and find out just how well you know the Asia-Pacific this week.

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Question 1 of 10

1. Question

How many states are part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement?

The politics of TPP ratification in the United States are, however, a great source of anxiety for the other eleven states. As I’ve explained before, the requirements baked into the TPP on the agreement’s entry into force ensure that the United States must be on board. In short, all 12 signatories ratify the agreement painlessly, the agreement enters into force 60 days after the last member ratifies it. If all twelve fail to ratify, the agreement still can come into effect if six original signatories, representing 85 percent of TPP country GDP between them, ratify the agreement.

The 85 percent requirement, in particular, means that without the United States, there is no TPP. For the TPP’s other signatories, the agreement’s ratification is a major litmus test for U.S. credibility. Obama, with months left in office, has stressed that he thinks Congress “will ultimately support” the deal, but it’s looking less likely every day that he’ll be one to convince U.S. lawmakers to do it.

The politics of TPP ratification in the United States are, however, a great source of anxiety for the other eleven states. As I’ve explained before, the requirements baked into the TPP on the agreement’s entry into force ensure that the United States must be on board. In short, all 12 signatories ratify the agreement painlessly, the agreement enters into force 60 days after the last member ratifies it. If all twelve fail to ratify, the agreement still can come into effect if six original signatories, representing 85 percent of TPP country GDP between them, ratify the agreement.

The 85 percent requirement, in particular, means that without the United States, there is no TPP. For the TPP’s other signatories, the agreement’s ratification is a major litmus test for U.S. credibility. Obama, with months left in office, has stressed that he thinks Congress “will ultimately support” the deal, but it’s looking less likely every day that he’ll be one to convince U.S. lawmakers to do it.

Question 2 of 10

2. Question

Which Afghan province has been the site of heavy fighting between Afghan government forces and Taliban militants in recent weeks?

Nangarhar

Helmand

Badakhshan

Kunduz

Correct

Helmand, Afghanistan’s largest province, is slowly crumbling as the Taliban intensify their summer offensive against the Afghan government. On Wednesday, Nawa-i-Barakzayi district, adjacent to the provincial capital district of Lashkar Gah, became the latest of Helmand’s 14 districts to fall to the Taliban. With Nawa, the Taliban control 11 of 14 districts in the province. The fighting in Helmand has now gone on for several weeks, but the tide of the battle seems to be favoring the Taliban.

Incorrect

Helmand, Afghanistan’s largest province, is slowly crumbling as the Taliban intensify their summer offensive against the Afghan government. On Wednesday, Nawa-i-Barakzayi district, adjacent to the provincial capital district of Lashkar Gah, became the latest of Helmand’s 14 districts to fall to the Taliban. With Nawa, the Taliban control 11 of 14 districts in the province. The fighting in Helmand has now gone on for several weeks, but the tide of the battle seems to be favoring the Taliban.

4. Question

Which Southeast Asian state was hit by a series of bombings last week?

Vietnam

Philippines

Malaysia

Thailand

Correct

No sooner had 26 nations wrapped up a meeting in Indonesia on countering terror financing than a spate of bombs exploded in Thailand, underscoring the difficulties the authorities face in ending a scourge widely blamed on Islamic militancy.

Incorrect

No sooner had 26 nations wrapped up a meeting in Indonesia on countering terror financing than a spate of bombs exploded in Thailand, underscoring the difficulties the authorities face in ending a scourge widely blamed on Islamic militancy.

Question 5 of 10

5. Question

India recently passed a constitutional amendment to enable a nationwide value-added tax (known as the Goods and Services Tax). What will the final tax rate be?

The next biggest hurdle for GST will come in the states, as at least 16 state legislatures must also ratify the new GST Constitutional amendment. Then the Central GST and Interstate GST bills (which will set the actual tax rates) will be presented in the Indian parliament, yet another challenge to be met before the concept of single tax becomes a reality. The opposition parties are demanding a cap of 18 percent on the tax. This will become a contentious issue, as the revenue from taxes goes up to 27 percent in some of India’s states. The single tax will now subsume over 15 different taxes both at the central and state levels, but the GST will lead the government into uncharted territories when it comes to prevalent taxes in states. If the government does not put a cap on the maximum tax rate, the ultimate sufferers will Indian consumers. It is not clear, though, how the central government proposes to compensate states for the loss of tax revenue if it does decide to cap the tax at 18 percent.

The next biggest hurdle for GST will come in the states, as at least 16 state legislatures must also ratify the new GST Constitutional amendment. Then the Central GST and Interstate GST bills (which will set the actual tax rates) will be presented in the Indian parliament, yet another challenge to be met before the concept of single tax becomes a reality. The opposition parties are demanding a cap of 18 percent on the tax. This will become a contentious issue, as the revenue from taxes goes up to 27 percent in some of India’s states. The single tax will now subsume over 15 different taxes both at the central and state levels, but the GST will lead the government into uncharted territories when it comes to prevalent taxes in states. If the government does not put a cap on the maximum tax rate, the ultimate sufferers will Indian consumers. It is not clear, though, how the central government proposes to compensate states for the loss of tax revenue if it does decide to cap the tax at 18 percent.

Question 6 of 10

6. Question

What is notable about Uzbek Olympic gymnast Oksana Chusovitina, a competitor at the Rio games?

She was a former spy for the Soviet Union

She is the oldest gymnast to compete in the history of the modern Olympics

She is the oldest qualifying athlete for the Rio Olympics

She has a particularly difficult gymnastics move named after her

Correct

Oksana Chusovitina, a Bukhara-born gymnast, has been competing longer than many of her competitors have been alive. At 41, she is among the oldest Olympians appearing in the 2016 Rio Games and will be the oldest gymnast to compete in history of the modern games, stretching back to 1896. Last weekend she qualified for the finals in women’s vault, ranking fifth after the United State’s 19-year old Simone Biles; North Korea’s 27-year-old Hong Un-jong; Giulia Steingruber, 22, of Switzerland, and Russia’s Maria Paseka, 21.

Incorrect

Oksana Chusovitina, a Bukhara-born gymnast, has been competing longer than many of her competitors have been alive. At 41, she is among the oldest Olympians appearing in the 2016 Rio Games and will be the oldest gymnast to compete in history of the modern games, stretching back to 1896. Last weekend she qualified for the finals in women’s vault, ranking fifth after the United State’s 19-year old Simone Biles; North Korea’s 27-year-old Hong Un-jong; Giulia Steingruber, 22, of Switzerland, and Russia’s Maria Paseka, 21.

Question 7 of 10

7. Question

Which South Asian government recently announced that it intends to purchase eight to 12 multirole combat aircraft for its air force?

India

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Bangladesh

Correct

The Sri Lankan government has publicly announced that it is intends to purchase eight to 12 new multirole combat aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF),according to local media reports. Last week, Sri Lanka’s President, Maithripala Sirisena and his Cabinet have officially granted the country’s defense ministry permission to solicit offers from foreign aircraft manufacturers for the procurement of new aircraft and associated weapons systems on a government-to-government basis.

Incorrect

The Sri Lankan government has publicly announced that it is intends to purchase eight to 12 new multirole combat aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF),according to local media reports. Last week, Sri Lanka’s President, Maithripala Sirisena and his Cabinet have officially granted the country’s defense ministry permission to solicit offers from foreign aircraft manufacturers for the procurement of new aircraft and associated weapons systems on a government-to-government basis.

Question 8 of 10

8. Question

Which South China Sea claimant state reportedly deployed mobile rocket launchers in the disputed Spratly Islands last week?

9. Question

Why is the United States likely to withhold a $300 military reimbursement payment to Pakistan?

Because Pakistan, in the U.S. view, is inadequately targeting anti-Shia groups

Because Pakistan, in the U.S. view, is excessively using proxies against India

Because Pakistan, in the U.S. view, is inadequately targeting the Afghan Taliban

Because Pakistan, in the U.S. view, is inadequately targeting the Haqqani Network

Correct

The United States Department of Defense has decided to effectively withhold a $300 military reimbursement tranche to Pakistan, citing Islamabad’s inadequate attention to the fight against the deadly Haqqani network. Justifying the decision to withhold reimbursement on account of the Haqqani network is a first by the United States, despite threats along the same lines last summer. Broader military reimbursements were temporarily frozen in 2011, following the bilateral fallout after the U.S. raid against Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abottabad, but resumed later that year.

Incorrect

The United States Department of Defense has decided to effectively withhold a $300 military reimbursement tranche to Pakistan, citing Islamabad’s inadequate attention to the fight against the deadly Haqqani network. Justifying the decision to withhold reimbursement on account of the Haqqani network is a first by the United States, despite threats along the same lines last summer. Broader military reimbursements were temporarily frozen in 2011, following the bilateral fallout after the U.S. raid against Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abottabad, but resumed later that year.

Question 10 of 10

10. Question

Who lead a delegation on behalf of the new Philippines government to China last week?

Former President Fidel Ramos

Former Philippines President Benigno Aquino III

President Rodrigo Duterte

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Correct

Shortly after an international tribunal awarded the Philippines a sweeping victory in its legal case against China’s actions and claims in the South China Sea, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signaled his willingness to seek bilateral talks with Beijing on the issue. In particular, he tapped former President Fidel Ramos as a special envoy to China, a position Ramos accepted after initially expressing concerns about his health.

The 88-year-old statesman has now begun his duties as the Duterte administration’s point-man on China talks. On Monday, Ramos left for Hong Kong, where he will spend five days speaking with “old friends,” as he, the Philippine and the Chinese governments have all put it. That makes Ramos’ visit effectively a very high-profile “Track II” dialogue – one retired official meeting with other retired friends for unofficial (but government-approved) talks. The hope is that the talks this week – with as-yet-undisclosed Chinese partners – will lay the groundwork for official dialogues in Beijing at a later date.

Incorrect

Shortly after an international tribunal awarded the Philippines a sweeping victory in its legal case against China’s actions and claims in the South China Sea, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signaled his willingness to seek bilateral talks with Beijing on the issue. In particular, he tapped former President Fidel Ramos as a special envoy to China, a position Ramos accepted after initially expressing concerns about his health.

The 88-year-old statesman has now begun his duties as the Duterte administration’s point-man on China talks. On Monday, Ramos left for Hong Kong, where he will spend five days speaking with “old friends,” as he, the Philippine and the Chinese governments have all put it. That makes Ramos’ visit effectively a very high-profile “Track II” dialogue – one retired official meeting with other retired friends for unofficial (but government-approved) talks. The hope is that the talks this week – with as-yet-undisclosed Chinese partners – will lay the groundwork for official dialogues in Beijing at a later date.